According to Plan
Anya's POV
I waited patiently for Dimitri to let me know when I could go in to meet the Dowager Empress Marie who may or may not be my grandmother. I could have a family—well, a biological family—Dimitri and Vlad were family to me now too.
"Listen to me," Dimitri insisted. "Just talk to her—I know Anya is Anastasia."
"How?" Marie demanded.
"Do you remember how you escaped that night?" Dimitri asked.
"Yes, a young boy, the kitchen boy, opened a door in the wall leading to the servants' quarters and sent us out that way," Marie said softly.
"Anya remembers that too, and theoretically, that would be impossible, unless…" he trailed off, watching the Empress's face.
"Anya was Anastasia," the Empress finished.
"Send this Anya in at once," the Empress ordered.
Dimitri nodded and he handed her a music box.
Then he quickly exited the room.
"Well, Anya, good luck," he whispered in my ear.
I smiled and whispered, "Thanks, Dimitri, for everything."
He nodded and said, "This is it, Anya—everything we've prepared for—well, you prepared for, I mean."
I nodded and carefully entered the room.
"Your Imperial Majesty," I said, curtseying respectfully the way Dimitri and Vlad had taught me.
"Miss Anya," the Empress replied.
"Come. Sit down," she ordered.
I quickly obeyed and she asked, "Now, Miss Anya, where exactly were you when the Romanovs were first cursed and what happened afterward?"
I gulped and said, "I was there—at the ball, I think. Then a scary man—like a corpse—arrived and cursed them. My grandmother and I ran. We raced to the tower. I tried to get my music box, but a little boy sent us out through the servants' quarters. The corpse man tried to drag me under the ice, but my grandmother saved me. We raced for the train. I fell. I hit my head. Then everything went black and I was taken to the orphanage. I was supposed to go work in a fishery, but instead I followed my dog, Pooka, who led me to what must have been the old Romanov palace in St. Petersburg and Dimitri, who helped me get this far, Majesty."
She stared at me and began to hum a tune. I started humming along. Then the words came. "Once upon a December," we sang softly.
She grabbed me and said, "My little Anastasia."
"Grandmamma," I murmured, clinging desperately to the Empress—I was home, I had family, and I had love—I was complete.
Then she said, "We will stop at Sophie's and collect your belongings."
I nodded and said, "Grandmamma, what about Dimitri?"
"We'll have to reward him—not only for reuniting us, for helping us escape that night," she said.
I nodded and mumbled, "And saving me all those other times."
"What are you talking about, child?' she asked.
"Um, I tried to jump off a boat on the way here—stupid Romanov curse," I said, scowling.
"That's one way to think about the family curse," she laughed.
I grinned and she said, "I think it best if you and Dimitri come with me to Sophie's. That way I know no one can do anything and you will both get there safely."
I nodded and we exited the room and I soon spotted Dimitri talking to Vlad and Sophie.
"Dimitri," I called.
He ran over to me and asked, "How'd it go?"
"Dimitri, you were right," I said. "I am Anastasia. I have a family. I have a home. I have love."
He grabbed me and hugged me as hard as he dared and whispered, "If only you could be mine, beautiful Anya."
I pulled back to stare at him and he said, "Princesses don't marry kitchen boys."
"Dimitri," I protested.
"It's true," he answered dully. "You deserve a prince—a knight in shining armor."
I rolled my eyes and said, "I already have my shining knight—you."
He shook his head and said, "Let's get you back to Sophie's."
I nodded and turned to follow my grandmother.
"Anya, where are you going?" Dimitri asked, looking confused.
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you," I said, suddenly. "My grandmother wanted to take us to Sophie's."
I heard Dimitri sigh and I wondered what was wrong with him. Would I ever know?
